LPL Financial LLC lessened its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Co. (NYSE:NSC - Free Report) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 248,574 shares of the railroad operator's stock after selling 3,277 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.11% of Norfolk Southern worth $58,340,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Norfolk Southern by 2.4% in the third quarter. Raab & Moskowitz Asset Management LLC now owns 1,749 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $435,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. raised its stake in Norfolk Southern by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 6,881 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $1,615,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Norfolk Southern by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 960 shares of the railroad operator's stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in Norfolk Southern by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,507 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $588,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Leavell Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,816 shares of the railroad operator's stock worth $1,365,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 75.10% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Norfolk Southern Trading Down 0.2 %
Shares of NSC traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $236.46. 788,720 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,212,593. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market cap of $53.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.35. Norfolk Southern Co. has a 52-week low of $206.71 and a 52-week high of $277.60. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $244.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $248.86.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The railroad operator reported $3.04 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.07. Norfolk Southern had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 21.63%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Norfolk Southern Co. will post 13 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Norfolk Southern Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 7th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. Norfolk Southern's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.71%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Norfolk Southern
In related news, Director Gilbert H. Lamphere acquired 607 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $259.86 per share, for a total transaction of $157,735.02. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 2,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $646,271.82. The trade was a 32.29 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on NSC shares. Stephens boosted their price target on shares of Norfolk Southern from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Norfolk Southern from $284.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $285.00 price target on shares of Norfolk Southern in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on Norfolk Southern from $265.00 to $260.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Norfolk Southern from $275.00 to $286.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $274.84.
Get Our Latest Research Report on NSC
About Norfolk Southern
(
Free Report)
Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals consist of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal.
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